Treatment:

Blood-thinning drugs (heparin and warfarin) are used to treat and prevent blood clots.

Expectations (prognosis):

The outcome is usually good with treatment, but symptoms may return.

Complications:

• Childhood stroke
• More than one pregnancy loss (recurrent miscarriage)
• Recurrent clots in the veins
• Pulmonary embolism

In rare cases, using warfarin to thin the blood and prevent clots can cause brief increased clotting and severe skin wounds. Patients are at risk if they are not treated with the blood-thinning drug heparin before taking warfarin.

Calling your health care provider:

Call your health care provider if you have symptoms of clotting in a vein (such as swelling and redness of the leg).